中法戰爭中,時任兩廣總督的張之洞主持軍務,坐鎮後方,指揮調度,取得鎮南關——諒山大捷,爲時人和後人所津津樂道。但是,在這場戰爭尾聲的中越勘界中,他的作爲卻較少被人關注。其時張之洞奉命會勘中越邊界,雖然並非主事者,但敏銳地認識到勘界事關國家安危與領土主權,任務重大,影響深遠,不容有失。他着眼全局,不僅勘界前密陳機宜,建言獻策,而且對於所轄廣西、廣東界務尤爲究心,協助勘界大臣鄧承修較爲順利地完成勘界任務,充分體現了他的愛國主義情懷。張之洞也見證和體驗了對外交涉的艱辛與無奈,認識到涉外事務與國家的强弱有關,並趨於理性務實。這對其完成從詞臣到疆吏、由清流入洋務的大幅轉身起到一定的推動作用。 During the Sino-French War, Zhang Zhidong, then Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, presided over military affairs and took charge of rearward command and dispatch to gain the Zhennan Pass - a great victory for the Ssangyung Mountain. However, his deeds were seldom watched in the Sino-Vietnamese demarcation process at the end of the war. At that time, Zhang Zhidong was instructed to reconsider the Sino-Vietnamese border. Although not a principal one, he was keenly aware that the demarcation of the territory involved the safety of the country and the sovereignty of the territories. It was a major task with profound and far-reaching consequences. He focused on the overall situation, not only confronting the confrontation with Chen Yici for advice and advice, but also gave special advice to the world affairs under the jurisdiction of Guangxi and Guangdong. He assisted Dang Chengxiu, a dean of the demarcation survey, in successfully carrying out the demarcation task and fully demonstrated his patriotism . Zhang Zhidong also witnessed and experienced the hardships and helplessness of diplomatic negotiations. He realized that foreign affairs are related to the strength of the country and tend to be rational and pragmatic. This completes its execution from Ci-Chen to Jiang Li, which has played a certain role in promoting the dramatic turn-over from the Qing Dynasty to the Westernization Movement.